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R. H. MULLEN MOP WRINGER.

1 l l f Patented Sept we nofws Psx-ias nu.. mom-urna., msmumcu, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT H. MULLEN, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO PEARCE, ATKINS d: CO., OF SAME PLACE.

MOP-WRINGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 435,705, dated September 2, 1890.

Serial No. 353,038.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT H. MULLEN,a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city of Cincinnati, in the county of IIamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in MopVringers, of which the following is a specification.

The several features of my invention and the various advantages varising from their use, conjointly or otherwise, willbe apparent from the following description and claims.

In the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, and to which reference is hereby made, Figure l is a vertical elevation of a mop-wringer embodying my invention, showing the parts of the device in a position wherein the ends or loops of the niop-ya'rn or flexible fabric can be applied to the device. Fig. 2 is a vertical elevation of the same mop, the parts thereof being closed together as in use, with the exception that the strands or yarn of the mop run down in a spiral direction,which is the position they assume when the mop is being wrung. In Figs. l and 2 the upperportion of the handle of the mop is omitted for the sake of economy of space. Fig. 3 is a top view of the device when the several parts thereof are in the position shown in Fig. l, central rod B and the textile fabric or yarn being omitted. Fig. 4 is a top view of the said device when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, central rod B and the textile fabric or yarn being omitted. Fig. 5 is a top or plan view of that portieri of the device which consists of the hooks for sustaining the yarn, as hereinafter' mentioned, and the upper sleeve and the guide-rods which connect the lower hook and sleeve tothe upper sleeve. Fig. (5 is a side elevation of the lower portion of the device, which consists of the hooks for carrying the yarn and the lower' sleeve, guideways, and upper sleeve. In this view the upper sleeve and the upper portion of the guideways are omitted. This view also shows a side elevation of the cap, the skirt or downward annular iiange thereof having been removed. This view is an elevation of that side of the hooks, &c., such as would be seen by looking at the hooks, the., at either side of Fig. 1.

A indicates the mop-handle, of any suitable length, form, and material. Connected to the lower end of this handle is rigidly connected the upper end lof the rod B. The other or lower end of this rod is provided with a ring C, of sufficient size to allow the yarn or fabric D, which constitutes the ilexible portion oi the mop, to pass through it. On this rod, between the handle A and the ring C, slides a sleeve E. To the upper portion of this sleeve E are attached the guiderods E2 E2, extending upward parallel to the rod B. These rods E2 E2 are preferably located as shown-viz., the one on one side of the rod B and the other on the other side of said rod. The lower ends of these rods E2 extend out in the direction of the radii of the sleeve E, and form abutinents E3 E3, against which the cap F, hereinafter described, bears when advanced, as hereinafter specified. The upper ends of these guiderods E2 E2 are connected to a sleeve E4, sliding on the rod B and concentric therewith. In this sleeve is a radial screw-threaded perforation E5, and the latter receives a setscrew E This set-screw EG has at its outer end a handle or thumbpiece for rotating it.

The cap F is annular and concentric with sleeve E. Vhen the cap is provided with a skirt or downwardly-extending flange F7, the latter will form a recess below the cap-plate F6. The outline of this recess is shown in dotted lines in Fig. l. This recess is large enough to receive and embrace the hooks or detents II Il, hereinafter mentioned. In the upper portion of the cap F are two slots F F, respectively located at opposite sides of the opening F2. These slots are of such a size as to receive the guide-rods E2 E2 in a close-f1tting manner. The top edge of this cap is provided with two inclines Fs F3, respectively located on opposite sides of the rod B and between the slots F F. Theseinclines preferably extend from one of said slots to the other.

For the purpose of affording a hold for the hand of the operator in attempting to turn the cap F, the latter is provided with wings F5y F5. These wings extend out from the periphery of the cap, substantially as shown. Preferably one wing is just outside of one of IOO the slots F, and the other wing F5 is similarly located with reference to the other slot F'. The projection of these guide-rods E2 E2 radially out beyond the sleeve enables these rods to perform the additional function of abutments against which the cap F can bear when advanced toward the hooks H and against the yarn or textile fabric held within the embrace of the hooks. lf it were not for this novel arrangement of the rods separate abutments would have to be provided.

To the sleeve E, preferably at its lower side, is connected an annular frameH. This frame is connected to the .lower portion of the sleeve E,..preferably by means of the straps or arms H2. In this way room will be aorded below the bottom of the sleeve E and above the frame H for the ends of the loops of the yarn or other fabric which constitutes the flexible portion of the mop.

The hooks H H, annular frame H', and straps H2 constitute the improvement which is the subject of these Letters Patent.

The construction and arrangement of the sleeve E, the guide-rods E2 E2, the cap F, provided with wings F514, and the abutments F3 F3, arranged upon the central rod B, provided with ring C at its lower end and attached to the handle at its upper end, have already been described and claimed in a previous application, Serial No. 342,530, led March 3, 1890, in the Patent Office of the United States.

In the serial application hereinbfore mentioned the lower portion of the sleeve E was provided with an enlargement or an annular shoulder E located at the lower end of said sleeve. Upon this shoulder and around the sleeve E, above the shoulder, the ends or loops of the mop-yarn or other textile fabric were tied. The cap F was then pressed toward the shoulder E until the bottoms of the inclines F3 were in a position to pass beneath the lower ends or abutments of the guide-rods E2. The cap F was then rotated by means of the win gs F5 F5, or by frictional contact with the periphery of the cap, and the respective inclines F3 Fs being advanced and' the guide-mds pressing forward the latter and pressing the shoulder E on the sleeve E. In wringing the inop the handle and the rod B carrying the ring Cwere rotated, while the guide-rods E2 and ring C were stationary, or vice versa, or While the handle and rod B were rotated in one direction the handle and the sleeve E were rotated in the other direction. Either of these operations causes the mop to be twisted and wrung. After the mop was wrung a reversal of the above-named rotation or rotations straightened the mop and put it into shoulder E and compressed thereupon and around the sleeve E would, from frictional contact, work loose from the securing-strip and slip out of place during the operation of wringing the mop. My present invention overcomes these disadvantages.

In carrying my present invention into operation the tied-together ends or loops of the yarn or other textile fabric are hooked over the hooks Hat one side of the rod B. The other tied ends'or loops of the said yarn or textile fabric are then passed through the ring C and are next brought up and hooked over the other hook H at the opposite side of the rod B. The cap F is now lowered from the position shown in Fig. l to the position shown in Fig. 2-that is to say, the cap Fis caused to pass over and embrace the outer sides of the hooks H, and also embrace the upper ends of the textile fabric lying upon and within the embrace of the hooks and upon the annular ring H. The cap F is then pressed toward the hooks until the lower ends of the inclines F3 F3 of the cap F are just below the adjacent abutments Es E3 of the respective rods E2 E2. The cap F is now rotated a half-revolution. This rotation of the cap F causes the incline F3 on one side to pass beneath the adjacent abutment E3, and the incline F3 on the other side to pass beneath its adjacent abutment. During the passage of the inclines F3 beneath their respective abutments E3 E3 the cap F is forced forward and downward upon the yarn or textile fabric lying within the embrace of the hooks H and upon the annular frame H. The cap Fis now held securely in position. The open space at the top of each h ook and between the said cap and sleeve E is therefore now securely closed by the inner surface of the top of the cap. Furthermore, the exterior side of the hook H is close to the inner IOO adjacent surface of the cap F. Thus the yarn or textile fabric is securely prevented from slipping out of the' hooks H H. The sleeve E, with its hooks H H, abutments E3, wings F5, and the cap F, are now moved forward on the rod B toward the ring until the yarn or textile fabric is sufficiently bunched to enable it to be used as a mop. The set-v screw E6 is now tightened and the mop is ready for use.

When it is desired to wring the mop, the set-screw E6 is loosened and the handle and rod B carrying ring C are rotated while the cap F and the sleeve E 'are stationary; or the cap F and the sleeve E and the parts rigidly connected thereto are rotated while the handle and the rod B are held in a stationary position; or the handle A and the rod B and ring C are rotated in one direction and the cap and sleeve and parts fixed thereto are rotated in an opposite direction. Either of these operations causes the mop D to be twisted and wrung. The mop is now untwisted and the rod D retracted through the sleeve E and the ring C brought near to the hooks and thus buried in the yarn or fabric IIO of the mop. The yarn of the mop is now sufficiently bunched for use. The set-screw E3 may now be tightened. I have, however, found in practice that after the ring C has been buried in the yarn the set-screw E3 need not be tightened, as the cap F does not run up the rod Il, and hence the mop remains in working position. In fact, this set-screw E3 may be omitted altogether from the device, for the reason that it is not needed when the mop is being wrung, and when the several parts of the mop are in a proper position for use the force of gravity will cause the cap F and the hooks and the parts integral therewith to stay on the rod B down near to the ring C; hence the mop will remain in work* ingposition without the aid of the said setscrew E3; hence the aid and presence of the said set-screw E3 maybe altogether dispensed with.

The hooks H II, in connection with the cap F and the accompanying adjacent and necessary parts of the mop device, at all times securely hold the loops or tied-together ends of the textile fabric or yarn of the mop securely in place upon the hooks. It is impossible for the yarn or other textile fabric to slip therefrom during the ordinary use of the mop or when it is subjected to the severe strain of being twisted and wrung, as hereinbefore described. The textile fabric of the mop can be easily removed from the hooks by reversing the l1ereinbefore-described rotation of the cap F, so as to remove the inclines F3 F3 from under the abutments E3 E3 of the respective rods E2 E3, and allowing the said guide-rods-to enter the openings F F of the cap and slide in the cap F on the said guiderods toward the handle. The textile fabric can now be readily removed from the hooks and the ring C and fresh fabric be applied to the mop device in the same manner as that just removed was applied.

As heretofore indicated, the skirt or annular iange FT of the cap F may be omitted. In such event the cap-plate F3 will preferably be of such diameter as to allow it to pass down between the hooks II H, the latter there being sufficiently long so that when the cap-plate F3 is forced down to and upon the yarn or other fabric on the hooks II H the abutments F3 F3 will force the cap-plate down between the hooks. The cap-plate will non7 be buried in the yarn and the hard surface of the cap F and the edge of this plate will be thereby prevented from striking against and injuring objects near or on which the mop is used.

Vhile the invention claimed in these Iletters Patent is preferably employed in connection with a mop-wringer of the description hereinbefore specified, nevertheless it may be employed, so far as is possible, in connection with mop-wringing devices other than the one herein substantially set forth.

Vhat I claim as new and of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a mop, the combination of the hooks II H, connected to abutments, as E3, cap F, sliding toward said hooks and engaging said abutments E3, and the sliding rod having means, substantially as ring or loop C, for holding the lower end of the yarn or other textile fabric, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In a mop, the combination of the hooks, the annular frame I-I, carrying said hooks, sleeve E, and arms or connecting-piece H3, connecting said frame H to the sleeve E, abutments E3, connected to sleeve E, sliding cap F, having inclined faces F3 F3, arranged to engage said abutments E3 E3, and sliding rod B, having terminal loop orring C, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. In a mop, the combination of the hooks II H, connected to abutments E3, sliding cap F, embracing said hooks and provided with inclined faces F3 F3 for engaging said abutments E3 E3, the guide-rods E2 E3, connected to and forming a part of said abutments E3 E3, the cap arranged to slide thereon, and sleeve E4, connected to said guide-rods E2 and having set-screw E3, sliding rod B, passing through sleeves E4 and E and cap F and provided with terminal means, substantially as shown, for holding the lower portion of the textile fabric of the mop, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. In a mop, the hooks H I-I, rod B, having loop C, hanks of yarn D,passed through said loop, one end of the loops of yarn being caught over one of the hooks H and the other end of said loops of yarn being caught over the other hook H, the annular ring H, connected to the hooks, cap F, arranged, substantially as shown, to fit down upon the upper ends or loops of the said yarn, and the latter being tightly embraced 'between the hooks and the cap, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. In a mop, the hooks H H, connected to abutments, as E3, cap F, provided with annu- IOO IIC

lar flange F7, embracing said hooks the ca' F engaging the said abutments E3, and the sliding rod having means, substantially as ring or loop C, for holding the lower end of the yarn or other textile fabric, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

ROBERT H. MULIAEN. Attest:

WM. E. JoNns, K. SMITH. 

